Feverish flushed skin. Hot one minute and chilled the next. Sweating accompanied by mild nausea. Palpitations or racing heart. This list of symptoms sounds like the flu but if you are a woman over 40, you just may be experiencing hot flashes.
There are a number of reasons why women might not communicate their symptoms to their doctor.
Confusion With Other Conditions
Hot flash symptoms are “nonspecific,” meaning they can mimic other conditions such as flu or heart problems. I know of one woman who actually called 911 believing she was having a heart attack when she had her first severe hot flash. (About one-third of women experience chest pressure and or pain, which can feel like a heart attack, during a hot flash. The symptoms are not life threatening, but the anxiety and fear that come with it are very real.)
Denial
It can be difficult to confront the end of childbearing years or the irrefutable evidence of aging heralded by the menopause transition. It’s important to know that we can live vibrant, active lives during and after menopause.
Embarrassment
Hot flashes ARE embarrassing at times. Sweating profusely and rapidly discarding layers of clothing can occur at the most inconvenient of times, such as social or work situations. We may prefer to ignore them, rather than bring them up to anyone, including our physician. Even the act of talking to our physician can cause some women discomfort, but it shouldn’t. All women will eventually experience menopause, and hot flashes are not uncommon – there’s no reason you should hesitate to bring up your symptoms to your doctor.
Confusion and Fear About Hormone Treatments
Widespread confusion and fear exist about using hormone therapy for menopause-related symptoms. To counter the confusion and fear, let us give you some facts:
If you are over 40 and suffering what may be hot flashes, here are ways to help yourself and your physician come up with a treatment plan.
Hot flashes can be debilitating and disruptive to our daily lives, but we can take steps to relieve them. The menopause transition can then become a joyful beginning as we move into our Second Act.
Sources:
Non-Hormonal Ways to Cope with Hot Flashes & Menopause. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 23, 2015. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic-what-is-perimenopause-menopause-postmenopause/hic-non-hormonal-ways-to-cope-with-hot-flashes-and-menopause
Fear of HRT May Deprive Women of Its Health Benefits, Experts Say. Everyday Health. Retrieved November 24, 2015. http://www.everydayhealth.com/menopause/fear-of-hrt-may-deprive-women-of-its-health-benefits-experts-say-3989.aspx
Hormone Therapy. MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 25, 2015. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007111.htm
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